Exciting talent Jordan set for run in first-team
COVENTRY City boss Mark Robins appears ready to give teenage striker Jordan Ponticelli a run in the first team as he looks for the perfect partnership up front.
The Sky Blues boss handed last season’s 27-goal Under-18s sensation his first start at Luton Town just under a fortnight ago and the 19-year-old followed that up with two goals to sink Maidenhead in the first round of the FA Cup.
Both games saw Ponticelli play with Marc McNulty in City’s forward line, the latter getting on the mark against the Hatters, and Robins is keen to for the pair to develop a formidable partnership.
The Sky Blues manager has tried several permutations as he searches for the combination to get the goals to fire the club to promotion.
Despite City boasting the meanest defence in the division, goals have been hard to come by with the three at Luton on the back of four games of firing blanks.
But the emergence of Ponticelli in recent weeks has clearly excited Robins who believes he and McNulty can develop a lethal understanding.
“I was very pleased with the two goals, both in the approach play and the execution,” he said, reflecting on the 19-year-old’s match winning brace against Maidenhead in the FA Cup last Sunday. “They were two clinical finishes from a young striker who is full of confidence.
“Jordan’s movement is getting better and his finishing is a great asset. Jordan and Marc McNulty are complementing each other, and we’re looking forward to this partnership improving.”
Ponticelli has been broken into the side gently in his big breakthrough season but the fans have been clamouring for his inclusion since the tail end of last term.
Robins wants all of his strikers primed and ready for action as the club face their next three League Two fixtures, two of which are tough trips on the road.
“Everyone needs to be on their toes, fixtures are coming thick and fast but we have a good sequence of matches,” he said.
“With Mansfield, Lincoln and Stevenage coming up there are a good amount of games and everyone needs to be ready to play.
“Only 11 players can start and some will be disappointed, but all players are valued and need to have a strong mindset and work to be ready when the opportunity arrives – which it will.”
Summer signing Max Biamou finally opened his City account this week, scoring in the 2-1 win over Albion Under-21s.
And Robins hopes that will prove to be the catalyst for more from the summer signing from Sutton United who netted 13 for the nonleague side last year.
“I would imagine his goal will do his confidence the world of good, “said the manager. “He’s desperate to score and that should take a little bit of weight off his mind.”
Coventry City legends join club historian and author Jim Brown at the Ricoh Arena to sign copies of his latest book chronicling the story of the Sky Blues’ best ever season.
Mick Kearns, Dietmar Bruck and Ronnie Farmer will be with Jim to meet fans before and after today’s Mansfield match. Play Up Sky Blues: Champions 1967, tells the story of City reaching the First Division for the first time.
Under their charismatic manager Jimmy Hill and strengthened by the arrival of record signing Ian Gibson, were the favourites to go up.
The story tells how after a mixed start the team had a crisis in October with Hill and Gibson falling out with the Scot asking for a transfer.
For a time ‘JH’ was under pressure until he and ‘Gibbo’ settled their differences and the fans’ hero was recalled. His return sparked a run of 25 unbeaten games and secured promotion.
The signing of the book, which costs £16.99, is at the Casino from 1.30pm and then after the game until 6pm.